The town, which served as the group’s headquarters, has now fallen into Puntland’s hands. The government announced the completion of the second phase of the operation.

The ongoing offensive, supported by U.S. AFRICOM and the UAE through airstrikes, has targeted ISIS bases since December, killing dozens of militants.

During the latest operation, Puntland security forces uncovered an underground hideout where top ISIS leader Abdiqadir Mumin had been living.

The hideout, concealed beneath a tomato farm to evade aerial detection, contained a tunnel several meters deep, an oxygen tube, and solar-powered lighting.

Despite the major setback for ISIS, Abdiqadir Mumin and other top leaders managed to flee.

Puntland forces are continuing their pursuit of the militant group’s leadership.

Meanwhile, Puntland’s Police Chief, General Mumin Abdi, urged civilians to remain vigilant, warning that fleeing ISIS members might attempt to blend in with local communities.

“We want all Puntlanders to be vigilant as the ISIS terrorists fleeing from Cal Miskaad are trying to hide within the civilian population and might cause harm,” General Mumin Abdi said.

#VIDEO: ISIS-SOMALIA LEADER’S UNDERGROUND HOUSE EXPOSED

Puntland counter-terror forces uncovered an underground house where top ISIS emir Abdiqadir Mumin had been living.

The house had a tomato farm on top as a cover from airstrikes, with a tunnel several meters deep. It was… pic.twitter.com/iREtbtsT6y

— Kaab TV (@KaabTV) February 24, 2025

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Thousands of families have been displaced as the military campaign intensifies, forcing locals to flee their homes.

According to government reports, over 19,640 families have been uprooted by the counter-terrorism operation, which was launched in late December under the codename “Operation Hillaac.”

The operation aims to dismantle ISIS strongholds in the Cal Miskaad Mountains, a rugged and remote area in northeastern Somalia.

On Thursday, the Puntland Cabinet convened in the port town of Bosaso, where President Said Abdullahi Deni has been personally overseeing the campaign.

The meeting resulted in an urgent appeal to humanitarian aid groups and international partners involved in stabilization efforts.

Interior Minister Abdi Farah Said called on United Nations agencies and other international partners to provide immediate assistance to displaced families and communities affected by the conflict.

“We are particularly appealing to UN agencies to provide humanitarian aid to those affected by the ongoing operation. Additionally, we urge agencies involved in stabilization projects, such as USAID, to assist communities in the liberated areas,” said Minister Abdi Farah.

The minister emphasized the need for essential services in the areas cleared of militants, including education, healthcare, water, and roads.

“These services will enable displaced locals to resume their livelihoods and allow the government to ensure their safety once they return,” he added.

So far, 19,640 families have fled their homes

His appeal was echoed by Ubah Abdirashid Mohamed Hirsi, Puntland’s Minister of Humanitarian Management, who confirmed the staggering displacement numbers.

“So far, 19,640 families have fled their homes and are in desperate need of emergency support. Poor rainfall last year compounded the difficulties these families were already facing, and now this displacement has worsened their situation,” she said.

The Minister of Information, Mohamud Aideed Dirir, praised the progress made by Puntland Security Forces (PSF), despite limited resources.

“The counter-ISIS operation, which we initially projected to take months, has achieved remarkable success in just a few weeks. ISIS fighters are on the run, abandoning their positions, and Puntland forces are pursuing them in the remote mountains,” he stated.

Dirir commended local communities for their role in providing intelligence that has been instrumental in tracking the militants.

On Thursday, Puntland forces reportedly seized key ISIS bases, including training camps and storage facilities for food and fuel.

Among the captured items were documents belonging to a Saudi national suspected to be a financier of the group, who fled the area before the forces arrived.

The conflict escalated on December 31, when ISIS carried out a car bomb attack on a Puntland army base in Dharjaalle.

The explosion killed 12 foreign militants, including individuals from Tanzania, Tunisia, Morocco, Ethiopia, and Comoros, alongside Somali fighters.

Though smaller in scale compared to al-Shabaab, ISIS-Somalia remains a significant threat in the region.

The group, which has been active in Puntland since 2015, is led by Abdulqadir Mumin, a former al-Shabaab commander who pledged allegiance to ISIS.

Operating primarily in the Golis Mountains, ISIS-Somalia has conducted assassinations and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks.

Puntland’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden and near the Red Sea makes it a critical hub for international maritime trade, but it also attracts militant groups exploiting the area for smuggling and other illicit activities.

The post Puntland Appeals for Urgent Aid Amid Military Operations Against ISIS appeared first on Kaab TV.

The ongoing operation, codenamed Hillaac, launched in December and targets ISIS hideouts in the Al-Miskad and Al-Madow mountain ranges, spanning the Bari and Sanaag regions.

On December 31, ISIS militants carried out a large-scale car bomb attack on Puntland’s military base in Dharjaalle.

The attack was repelled, with Puntland forces killing at least 12 militants, including eight foreign fighters.

This week, Puntland’s Marine Police—trained and funded by the UAE—alongside the police and Darwish units, advanced approximately 80 kilometers deeper into the mountains.

General Abdirahman Jama, the operation’s commanding officer stated the forces covered a large part of the mountainous area.

“The ISIS militants cannot withstand our forces and have begun fleeing, but they have left behind IEDs in the areas they abandoned. We know their tricks and we are vigilant,” he added.

On Saturday, the advancing forces destroyed several IEDs along the road.

Vehicles were halted, and troops proceeded on foot with extreme caution, as the risk of hidden explosives remained high.

Local communities were also warned to avoid potentially hazardous areas.

Later in the day, the forces discovered a deep cave in the Al-Miskad Mountains containing abandoned supplies, including rice, beans, oil, and sugar, likely used by ISIS fighters.

Solar panels and a dozen mobile phones were also recovered from the site.

In a first for Puntland’s counterterrorism efforts, the forces successfully downed two ISIS surveillance drones deployed to monitor troop movements.

“We hope to secure the entire mountainous area within days,” said Officer Mohamud, one of the commanders leading the operation.

U.S. AFRICOM has supported the offensive by conducting targeted airstrikes on militant hideouts.

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According to Puntland Police Commander General Mumin Abdi Shire, five key militant command posts were destroyed during the operation.

ISIS in Puntland: A Growing Threat

While ISIS-Somalia remains smaller in scale compared to al-Shabaab, its presence in Puntland highlights the region’s persistent security challenges.

ISIS first established a foothold in Puntland in 2015 when a faction led by Abdulqadir Mumin broke away from al-Shabaab and pledged allegiance to ISIS.

Operating predominantly in the Golis Mountains, the group has conducted assassinations and IED attacks, exploiting Puntland’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden near critical international maritime trade routes.

The region’s instability is further exacerbated by international dynamics.

U.S. intelligence has reported potential arms transfers between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and al-Shabaab, backed by Iran’s known support for the Houthis.

This convergence of militant activity in the Horn of Africa poses a growing threat to regional and international security.

The post ISIS Drones Downed, Caves of Food Uncovered, and IEDs Cleared as Puntland Forces Battle Militants appeared first on Kaab TV.

General Mohamud Mohamed Ahmed Faadhigo, the spokesperson for the Puntland Defense Forces, detailed the assault on a base in Dharjaale, where forces were preparing for a major military operation.

“Today, at around 4:00 a.m., the base of the Puntland Counter-Terror Forces in Dharjaale was attacked by ISIS. We had prior intelligence about the attack, which enabled our forces to decisively destroy the militants, including foreign fighters,” said General Faadhigo.

Last week, Puntland announced a large-scale operation aimed at eradicating the spread of militants in the region.

A significant number of forces were mobilized and deployed to the mountainous areas of Bari, which border the Red Sea.

On Tuesday, the militants initiated the attack with a suicide car bomb, but the Puntland Defense Forces were prepared, repelling the assault with precision.

#ALERT: General Mohamud Faadhig, the spokesperson for the #Puntland Defense Forces, said they had repelled an #ISIS militant attack on a Puntland Defense Forces base in Dharjaale, located in eastern #Bari region of Puntland, where the forces were preparing for a major military… pic.twitter.com/lwDK6wGBtS

— Kaab TV (@KaabTV) December 31, 2024

According to the spokesperson, all attackers were eliminated, including eight foreign fighters, and their weapons were confiscated.

Local residents reported seeing ISIS fighters retreating after their defeat. “The situation remains tense,” noted residents from a remote mountainous village near the scene.

Puntland’s Deputy President, Ilyas Osman, lauded the military’s bravery.

“I call on all Puntland people to support the Puntland Defense Forces in their fight against terrorist groups,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Photographs released by the military showcased confiscated weapons, including an AK-47 rifle stamped with the Shahada, reportedly used by the militants.

Formation of Support Committee

Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni visited injured soldiers at a hospital in Bosaso, expressing solidarity and pledging continued support.

Although the exact number of wounded soldiers was not disclosed, the government confirmed that the injuries resulted from the suicide car bomb attack.

President Deni announced the formation of a seven-member Committee for Support and Care to oversee the injured soldiers’ recovery.

The committee includes prominent officials such as Health Minister Said Jama Ali Qoorsheel, Minister of Air Transport Abdullahi Bille Nuur, and Mayor of Bosaso Abdifatah Haji Shanle.

Their primary focus will be aiding personnel affected by the ongoing operations in the Golis Mountains.

ISIS in Puntland: A Growing Threat

While ISIS-Somalia remains smaller in scale compared to al-Shabaab, its presence in Puntland underscores the region’s vulnerability.

ISIS has had a presence in Puntland since 2015, when a faction led by Abdulqadir Mumin broke away from al-Shabaab to pledge allegiance to ISIS.

Operating predominantly in the Golis Mountains, ISIS-Somalia has engaged in assassinations and IED attacks.

Puntland’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden and its proximity to the Red Sea are critical to international maritime trade routes.

This geography has attracted militant groups, exploiting the area for smuggling and other illicit activities.

Regional militant activities are compounded by the interplay of international actors.

U.S. intelligence has reported discussions between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and al-Shabaab regarding potential arms transfers, bolstered by Iran’s well-documented support for the Houthis.

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